PA’s U.S. Rep. Murphy introduces bill to cut down on gov’t healthcare overpayments
The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act would reduce waste, fraud and abuse resulting from lack of oversight on the part of federal agencies, reports the Bucks County Courier Times.
Geisinger’s prez denies that he’s leaving to become chief of federal agency
News reports from last week were all but sure that Dr. Glenn Steele Jr. would leave Geisinger to become head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Reading Between the Lines: Kids of Color; Mental Health Care
Huffington Post reports:
This weekend the New York Times reported on a new study, which finds that kids on Medicaid are four times more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic drugs than their privately insured counterparts, and often for conditions for which the drugs are not FDA approved such as A.D.H.D. and conduct disorders. These drugs may [...]
PA nursing homes sue over Medicaid reimbursement cutbacks
They say new federal and state rules are “capricious and unlawful” due to them resulting in lower Medicaid reimbursements.
$14.7M verdict against AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca, a British drug maker with U.S. headquarters near Wilimington, must pay $14.7 million for inflating prescription drug prices for Medicaid reimbursements.
Foundation says PA’s Medicaid and CHIP costs will jump
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation conducted a study that concludes hospital costs for uncompensated health care will soar in the absence of a comprehensive change in the nation’s health care system.
Waxman aims to help Medicare by way of drug companies
Rep. Waxman says pharmaceutical makers continue to reap more from Medicaid-eligible patients in the Medicare program than the companies would get if their drugs were provided through Medicaid.
Dept. of Aging wants to hear from consumers about proposed new Medicare/Medicaid program
The program will attempt to make it easier for seniors to deal with health coverage issues.
PA Health Care Assoc: Cuts won’t buy better care
Stuart H. Shapiro, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, has an opinion piece in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer in which he applauds President Obama’s move toward health care reform but denounces the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid which will help fund the effort.
Healthcare expert: Mothers & newborns will be among those hardest hit by PA budget cuts
Dr. Judith Lave is concerned that certain cuts to the Medical Assistance program will lessen services to low-income mothers and their newborns.